Amazon.com Product Description
Outfitted with a 16-color display, a high-speed USB data port, 8 MB of built-in maps, and an additional 8 MB of usable memory, the Magellan eXplorist 500 North America includes all the tools you need to navigate throughout the U.S. and Canada whether in the car or on foot. The device is rugged and lightweight, with a waterproof, impact-resistant plastic housing that stands up to almost every adventure, including whitewater rafting and hiking. At the same time, its pocket-sized chassis, which measures a mere 2.2 by 4.7 by 1.3 inches (W x H x D), is loaded with convenient features, such as detailed, built-in maps of North American roads, parks, waterways, and airports; the ability to save five track log files, 20 routes, and 500 points of interest; and an area calculator that determines the distance between saved points of interest--an ideal function when mapping out hiking trails. Other cool and convenient add-ons include a fish/hunt function that mentions the best fishing and hunting times for a specific coordinate and a similar tool that displays the rising and setting times for the sun and moon.
Should the built-in maps and extra memory prove insufficient, users can load additional map data onto Secure Digital (SD) memory cards using Magellan's MapSend software (sold separately), which is available via CD-ROM and, in some cases, online (your computer connects to the GPS through its USB port). There's no limit to the number of cards you can use, giving users access to everything from detailed street maps to topographical layouts to lake charts showing bottom features and boat ramps. Fun seekers will also delight in the Geocache Manager, which invites individuals and families to download geocache coordinates from specific Internet sites and use them on such adventures as treasure hunts and coordinated community projects. The manager employs a PC-style file system to keep geocache navigation easy.
Adding to the simplicity are the intuitive keypad and joystick controls, along with the one-button access for particularly important features. Unlike with many GPS systems, it doesn't take an expert to start navigating right away. The full-color display also helps first-time users, as it's easier to differentiate between different map features and data.
Additional features include multilingual communication (choose from English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Swedish, Finnish, Portuguese, Dutch, or Norwegian); four navigation screens for viewing speed, direction, distance to destination, and more; and a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack that keeps the eXplorist 500 working for up to 17 hours. Conveniently, users needn't remove the battery to charge it; simply plug the charger directly into the receiver and it renews itself.
What's in the Box
eXplorist 500 GPS, rechargeable lithium ion battery pack, warranty card, user's manual.
Product Description
The eXplorist 500 North America Handheld GPS is your all-purpose guide to the wild, untamed natural wonder on the North American continent. Its 8 MB of built-in maps and an intuitive interface make it easy to start navigating right out of the box. Save 5 track log files, 20 routes and 500 points of interest to the 8 MB of additional internal memory - or store as many more as you want on optional SD cards. The color backlit LCD screen makes it easy to navigate, even in the dead of night. Geocache, TrueFix and Area/perimeter calculations help you find your way anywhere on the continent. Ready to go with no service or activation fees Unlimited SD Card expandability - add detailed street maps or topo charts with the optional Magellan MapSend software TrueFix GPS technology uses 14 parallel channels Download Geocache coordinates from Websites and manage travelling more effectively Area & perimeter calculation for the distance between two waypoints Monitor satellite status while tracking your position Rubber armored, impact resistant plastic for safe carrying on every adventure Watertight - sealed to IPX-7 specifications
Customer Reviews:
Poor quality product.......2007-11-27
I really wanted to like this unit. The graphics were nice, features were nice, my family had a lot of fun with it at first. Then the memory went out on it and I called Magellan (long wait time) and they said to send it in. After 2 months I got it back and it didn't work at all right out of the box, then I noticed it wasn't even my unit, they had exchange it for a different one that didn't work! Of course I had to send it in (again at my cost) and after another 6 weeks wait they send me back the second unit in working condition - well it worked for about a month, which, for me included using it about three times. No, I didn't mishandle any of these units. I am very disappointed with it.
Magellan support doesn't exist.......2007-11-14
I purchased a new Explorist 500 in August 2006. It works fine although doesn't seem to lock onto satellites as quickly as Garmin GPS. I have on occasion tried to get through to their support both in email and on the phone and I don't think Magellan support exists. When I had to buy a new home computer and it came with Windows Vista, I received a canned reply from Magellan that said basically I was out of luck that there is no way the Explorist 500 will talk to Windows Vista. I will not buy another Magellan product due to the lack of support and the fact they seem to be way behind in technology. Windows Vista has been around for almost two years. Plenty of time for someone to develope a patch.
Magellan GPS Products - Customer Beware.......2007-11-01
Megellans "customer service" is by far the worst we have experienced. Based on our experience, it appears that Magellan's customer service tactic is to put the customer on hold for long periods hoping that they will hang up, always making the customer call back, never agreeing to follow up with a return phone call or e-mail and making false promises. I'm assuming all with the intent that the customer will eventually just give up. Not only has Magellan not stood behind its product, its customer service people are obviously trained to give customers the run around. What a NASTY way to treat people. Read on if you want details of what we have been through.
In April of 2006 I bought my husband a Magellan Explorist 300 for his birthday. It was to replace a 10 year old Magellan that was much larger and heavier. After several months the NAV button wasn't working properly. By the time he got around to call "customer service" it was a couple of weeks after the 1 year warranty. He was told the warranty would not be honored as it had expired. We paid to ship and repair the unit. When we got the unit back, it was not the one we sent in as it had a different serial number. The NAV button of this replaced unit did not work. My husband called within a week, of receiving this "repaired" model and was told by "customer service" that the Explorist 300 was discontinued, they would not honor the "repaired" model and that they were no longer servicing the model. He was then told he would just have to buy another model. He indicated that this was not acceptable and pressed to speak with a supervisor. He was first told no supervisor was available and with further pressing was put on hold for 10-15 minutes before a supervisor responded. She indicated that they would provide him with an Explorist 400 at no charge, but that they were out of stock and he would need to call back in a week. After the week, the call was a series of holds (always 10-15 minutes each time) before a supervisor came to the phone. This supervisor said the Explorist 400 was out of stock as well as the Explorist 500 and that they would ship him an Explorist 600. After two weeks went by, my husband called to find out if the Explorist 600 had been shipped. They said it would be shipped within 1 week and when my husband asked by what mode of transport, they indicated UPS. When he asked them to provide the tracking number he was told to call back in a couple of days for it. He calls back a couple of days later and again after a series of holds was told the Explorist 600 was being shipped out and that he should have it in a few days.....again he's instructed to call back for the tracking number. He calls back days later, again a series of holds, and is told the computer system is down and he will have to call back the next day. He calls back, again a series of holds. The "customer service" rep promises that this time it will be shipped and that he will even send an e-mail providing the tracking number within 24-48 hours. You guessed it....no tracking number. My husband calls every week and is "promised" that it will be sent (this time) and he will receive it in 3-5 days. This has been going on for over two months now and still no replacement model. My husband is determined to get Magellan to stand behind their product, but I think it is an exercise in futility and that he will never get the replacement model he was "promised".
For Cyclists: Solid and reliable - software could be better.......2007-04-23
MY EXPERIENCE: I used the Magellan eXplorist 500 on a 400 mile bicycle trip from Baltimore to Central New York, and I've also used it on a 150 mile ride across Flordia, and several shorter rides.
THE GOOD: The screen is easy to read, the maps accurate, and the user interface easy to use while cycling. The unit is remarkably accurate, locks onto the sattelites very quickly (often within seconds). The bicycle mount seems just about sturdy enough - I added some insurance by applying some Velcro, and I clip the wristband to the bike. With those modifcations, the unit has been rock steady in the mount. The unit has been totally reliable, and has enabled me to navigate territory previously unknown to me with confidence. The rechargeable batteries usually last a full day of cycling (usually, about 8 hours for me), and are easy to change. The waypoint alarm is quite useful in ensuring turns are not overlooked. The breadcrumb tracking feature is useful and a lot of fun to "replay" after the trip! The unit seems very solidly built. A 1 Gbyte memory card holds enough information to go almost anywhere.
THE BAD: I don't like that one cannot view distance travelled, speed, and the map at the same time, no matter how one attempts to configure the unit. The PC mapping software strikes me as primitive, and poorly integrated with the unit. The Magellan software I have (admittedly several years old now) requires file formats to be translated using a special kluge utility when transferring data from the PC to the GPS unit or back. File handling firmware in the GPS unit is somewhat difficult to use. Batteries are proprietary, so there is no such thing as just buying some out on the road.
Unreliable; customer "service" a joke.......2007-04-17
Unreliable pile of 'you-know-what'. Worked fine for about 2 months then refused to power up. Fresh batteries, no go. Called customer "service". Outsourced call center to India; rep followed generic script telling me to: 1) use lithium-ion batteries, and 2) press "power + NAV" simultaneously. As suspected, bogus advice. Fresh batteries metered out to 1.62 volts each / 4.84 volts total. Yes, I tried lithium-ion batteries anyway. Still no-go. Am still waiting for Magellan/Thales to respond. Am still owner of unreliable GPS. Still have about $400 invested in unit plus software and maps. Still kicking myself for buying a Magellan product. Don't do it. Really -- don't do it.
Product Description
GPS Outdoor Navigation System! This Magellan eXplorist 500 Handheld Color GPS System features a large 2.3-inch color display with 4 navigation screens to view speed, direction, distance to destination andall the GPS information you need and TrueFix GPS Technology for accurate andreliable GPS Navigation! The eXplorist 500 offersbuilt-in mappingfor easynavigation through major roads, parks, waterways, airports and other POIs (Point of Interest) anda PC-style file system that helps you to easily manage all of your data! Store Up To 5 track logs, each with 2000 track pointsto the internal memory and store an unlimited amount of track log files to optional SD cards! The included Li-ion rechargeable battery pack can keep your eXplorist powered up for up to 17 hours. Plus, withits rubber armored construction andwater resistant feature, this unit is ready for you to take on the great outdoors! Find your way with this Magellan eXplorist 500 Handheld Color GPS System!
Product Description
Sony presents the ICF-CD853V CD/AM/FM/TV Band/Weather Band Clock Radio. Designed to get you moving in the morning, this Clock Radio is packed with features that make waking up a dream. Features include Brightness Control, a Mega Bass Sound System, a Large/Dual Time Display, a 4 Band Digital Synthesized Tuner (AM/FM/TV/Weather), 25 Random Memory Presets, CD-R/RW Playback, a Headphone Jack, and a Nap Timer. This clock radio's Space-Conscious Design will fit beautifully on your bedside table, so you can make use of the Triple Alarm, the Snoozinator Extendable Snooze, and CD Play Modes as you wake up and sink into sleep.
Customer Reviews:
Great product.......2004-08-26
Sony's technical expertise is Boss. The user-interface is intuitive; I haven't had to look at the manual.
But when I bought a SECOND one for my girlfriend, it was the floor model and didn't include the manual. (...)
My rating for the product is FIVE STARS. My rating for Sony Customer Service is TWO Stars.
Can't read the Clock!.......2004-07-20
If you are buying this for an alarm clock, not being able to read the time may be a problem.
Sadly, Badly designed.......2004-03-14
The features advertised for this CD clock radio made it seem like a solution to my disappointment with similar models in the genre. It has a digital tuner, large display, plays CD/R/RW, and the Sony Mega Bass system. Well... it has a digital tuner indeed with very poor sensitivity on FM (even with endless tries with the little antenna), no reception on weather and that you have to repeatedly press the "band" button to find your presets. The display is nice if you can read it; you must be directly in front of and slightly above, or it disappears. The CD functions are very good, but the sound is rather muddy, made worse by the Mega Bass and postioning of the speakers. The styling is odd, and while it may have a small footprint, it takes up a lot of room as it swells up to the concave CD lid. The labels on the buttons are unreadable thanks to a "mirrored" background behind the plastic front. The alarms are pretty useless; the buzzer is very soft, and one can't go to sleep with soft music without the radio/CD going off in the morning at the same soft level. Far too many design defects are incorporated in this model to use it for any purpose!
great clock.......2004-01-02
I'm very happy with this little clock. After my old Sony clock radio started breaking which looked like a shoebox, I decided to opt for a bit more stylish one. After a couple weeks of searching, I came across this one and it had the best features for the price, was a more compact version, and generally looked nicer. After opening the box and plugging it in, I found it is a very nice alarm clock.
Pros: nice big display, adjustable brightness, the alarm is nice - I like that it starts out slow and gets annoying (sure to wake me up), TV, weather, digital tuner, smaller than my old one, nice design, easy to use, I also like that it plays CD-RWs.
Cons: just like my old one it has that stupid "mouse tail" of a FM antenna which is really dumb because you can't really adjust it with out literally holding it, at some angles the display is a bit hard to read - its best it you are standing up looking DOWN at it, the alarm may be a bit to "cute" and not loud enough for some people, sound on the CD player could be better - its kind of thin, but what do you expect - its not a Bose (I recommend turning on the base boost - it evens out the sound), I also wish it was a little smaller. However, I'd definitely recommend it!
Bad Design -- Look Elseware!.......2003-12-03
Sony really should stop making alarm clocks. This is the third SONY alarm clock I have purchased, and I have really not been happy with them. I don't know why I keep buying them! I bought this one as a gift for a friend, and feel guilty about it. The volume control is analog, and it is difficult to locate on the side. The controls are in general difficult to use. As far as I can tell, there is no battery backup. When the power goes out...you have to reset the clock...and set the radio stations from scratch!
The TIMEX T309T is a much better option. The pop-out CD mechanism is a little weird, but overall it is WAY better than the Sony version. You can pretty much access the controls in the dark, and there are two digital volumes (sleep, and alarm/regular). Plus, it has battery backup!
Cheap Consumer Electronics:
- Magellan Maestro 3140 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
- Magellan Maestro 4040 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
- Magellan Maestro 4050 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
- Magellan Meridian 64MB Color Traveler GPS Navigator Value Pack
- Magellan Meridian Color Handheld GPS Navigator (16 MB)
- Magellan RoadMate 360 GPS Portable Navigator
- Magellan RoadMate 6000T Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator and MP3 Player
- Magellan SporTrak Pro Marine Handheld GPS (12 Channel, WAAS, Map Compatible)
- MSI MegaStick 1 128MB USB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Voice Recording
- MusicGremlin Wi-Fi MP3 Player (MG-1000)
Cheap Consumer Electronics List
Cheap Consumer Electronics
Handheld GPS
|
GPS & Navigation
|
Categories
|
Electronics
|
MP3 GPS
|
Mapping GPS
|
Outdoor & Camping GPS
|
PDA & Mobile GPS
|
Sports & Fitness GPS
|
Traffic-Enabled GPS
|
Travel GPS
|
Two-Way Radio GPS
Magellan eXplorist Carrying Case with Belt Clip
Magellan 730387 12v Cigarette Lighter Adapter Cable for the eXplorist Series
Magellan USA 3-D Mapsend Topo Software
Magellan eXplorist Vehicle Mounting Bracket
Magellan 702211 Bike Mounting Bracket
Magellan 980795 Clip Case
Magellan 980780 Rechargeable Battery Pack
Magellan eXplorist Swivel Mounting Bracket
